Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology

Have you heard of the nonprofit research facility in Camarillo, Calif., that focuses on birds? The collections at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology include almost 200,000 sets of eggs; more than 54,000 study skins; more than 18,000 nests; more than 600 mounted specimens; and a huge library of books, monographs and journals.

WFVZ celebrated its 50th birthday this year, and it continues to play a role in current ornithological research. Ivory-billed Woodpecker researchers have visited the facility to study the various IBWO skins in a drawer.

You can see the skins for yourself on this neat 8-minute video from KCET's "Life & Times" program or by visiting WFVZ on the last Friday of the month when it gives public tours.

If you know graduate students doing field research on birds' breeding biology, point them toward the Ed N. Harrison Memorial Scholarship Fund. That link provides all the details about the two $300 scholarships.